Printing-plate and base.



No. 659,384. PatantedOctQ, I900.

F. J. WENDELL. PRINTING PLATE AND BA'SE.

(Appliclfipn filed Mar. 27, 1900.) (No Model.)

j f fj.

J1 a 6 I 6 a I jflwefliorr ZfieJZ Z Z @mwi M UNITED STATES FERDINAND J. WENDELL, on NE YORK, N. Y.

PRINTING-PLATE AND BASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 659,384, dated October 9, 1900.

Application filed March 27, 1900.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FERDINAND J pWEN- DELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city,'in the State of New York, have invented Improvements in Printing-Plates and Bases, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to printing-plates, and especially to stereotype-plates that are manufactured less than type high, and to bases adapted to raise such plates type high when in the printing-press.

The object of the present invention is to provide simple and efficient means for detachably securing a thin plate of any length, even one of a single line of printing, and any width firmly to a base at every point along two 0pposite sides of the plate.

By my improvements I provide the plate and base with interlocking tongue-and-groove joints on two opposite sides, adapted to prevent the upward movement of the plate when locked in the press, and in order to permit the plate to be let down vertically upon the base in making up or to remove the plate from the base upward I dividethis base along the longitudinal center parallel with the interlocking joints.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents end views of a plate and a divided base made according to my invention, the

parts being shown in a position when the plate is about to be placed on the base or is just being withdrawn therefrom. Fig. 2 represents an end view of a plate and a divided base when the parts are assembled and two column-rules at the sides thereof.

The plate A is provided on the under side of two opposite edges with undercut flanges or hooks a, forming tongues and grooves adapted to interlock with tongues 19 on opposite outer edges of the base B B when its two divisions are in juxtaposition, as shown in Fig. 2. The upper adjacent cornersof the divisions B B are cut away or beveled,so that the divisions may be tilted in relation to each other sufficiently to have the tongues a pass over the tongues b, and the cut-away corners are preferably notched, as shown at b, so that when the divisions B B are tilted they will Serial No. 10,322, (No model.)

not slip easily upon each other, but will be caught in any position by the notches of one division engaging with or striking against the notches of the other division. The base being divided through the center longitudinally, the divisions B B are exactly alike and interchangeable, if necessary, the base taken as a whole being the same on each side throughout its length.

To look the plate to the base, the tongue or at one side'of the plate may first be engaged with the tongue I) of one of the divisions-say B-and then the other division B tilted until the other tongue a may pass over the tongue I) of the division B, or the two divisions may be tilted,as shown in Fig. 1, until the tongues 01. on both sides of the plate A will pass over the tongues 11b. In either case as soon as the plate A is pressed downward or the adjacent divisions B B are pressed upward the plate and base become looked, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be evident that the plate A cannot be raised from the base when the chase is locked up. On the other hand, as soon as the plate and base are unlocked from the chase and the column-rules O O separated by simply raising the plate A the divisions of the base tilt and free the plate, or if one base holds several plates and it is desired to change one of the plates for another it is not necessary to move any plate but the one to be changed, for if the divisions are tilted to allow a plate to be removed and then dropped they still look the other plates.

The interlocking joints are formed with some lateral play,whereby the locking-up devices may center the plate without strain on either the plate or base. The plate A shown in the drawings is about the width of a column of newspaper matter, but it is evident that the plate and base may be any width.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of a printing-plate and base provided with interlocking tongue-andgroove joints along two outer opposite edges, the said base being divided at the center between and parallel with said joints to form a two-part base, the said parts being alike and interchangeable, and the upper edges of the adjacent parts of the divided base being out away to permit the parts being tilted snllibase being stepped, substantially as and for 1'0 eiently to engage or disengage the plate and the purposes set forth. base vertically. In testimony whereof I have signed my 2. The combination of a printing-plate and name to this specification in the presence of base provided with interlocking tongne-andtwo subscribing Witnesses.

groove joints along two outer opposite edges, FERDINAND J. WENDELL. the said base being divided longitudinally at Witnesses:

EDITH J. GRIsWoLD.

the center between said joints the upper EDITH SARLES, edges of the adjacent parts of the dividedl 

